4.4 RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES

Background

The Gardens aims to make each person's visit an enjoyable experience
by encouraging and allowing visitors to fulfil their recreational
pursuits while not degrading the educational and scientific functions
of the Gardens or inhibiting the enjoyment of other visitors to the
Gardens. It is recognised that people who might not otherwise visit
the Gardens may be encouraged to come in response to some other
recreational pursuit. These new visitors may then be influenced by
the Gardens educational and interpretive programs.

The Gardens organises a variety of outdoor recreational activities
including musical performances and theatre as well as children's
clowns and other activities for the young. Recreational programs are
organised for people with a wide range of ages and abilities.
Holiday activities for school-children using games or the making
creatures out of seeds and fruits often link or merge with
educational programs. Similar programs, tailored to the needs of
people with intellectual disabilities can improve their quality of
life. Craft activities and flower arranging for adults may stand
alone or be linked to horticultural programs, and early morning
bird-watching tours could equally be classed as recreational or
educational. All these activities raise public awareness of the
environment.

Management prescriptions

Objective

The objective is to encourage visitors to fulfil their recreational
wishes in a manner consistent with the educational and horticultural
values of botanic gardens.

Implementation

The Gardens will continue to promote recreational activities to
encourage people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds to enjoy
botanic gardens. Visitors will be discouraged from indulging in
activities likely to be detrimental to the well being of plants or to
inhibit the enjoyment of other visitors.

Recreational activities at the Banksia Centre will be provided to a
wider range of visitors as part of the integration of programs for
people with disabilities with other Gardens activities. In
organising recreational activities, the Gardens will take special
account of the needs of the elderly and the frail aged.

Holiday programs for children will continue with innovative and
enjoyable environmentally sound activities which make use of the
Gardens resources. Musical and other entertainments which are not
inconsistent with the aims of the Gardens will be organised from time
to time.